Toy vehicle



A. R. OELHAFEN.

Toy VEHICLE'. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23.1918.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

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TTH/VEYS UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR R. OELHAFEN, OF TOMAHAWK, WISCONSIN.

TOY VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Application led'February g3, 1918. Serial'No. 218,844.

tant features, a loosely mounted propellingA arm arranged to be graspedin thehands of the child sitting uponthe seat, the lower end of the armhaving a friction pad whereby a firm hold is obtained on the surfacebeneath,

to propel the vehicle forwardly or rearwardly according to the directionof the ush.

Another object ofr theinvention is to provide a toy vehicle having theseat disposed well above the axles, a guide being provided for thepropelling arm so that the arm may be easily swung forwardly, backwardlyor laterally to obtain the various and necessary movements inpropellingthe vehicle.

Another object of theinvention lies in the arrangements of the frictionpads in various formations on the ends of different types of propellingarms.

Another object of the invention lies in the arrangement of thepropelling arm with respect to the guide, the; propelling arm having anopening adapted to strike the guide at one end at the completion ofl astroke to automatically lift the friction pad from the ground.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the toy vehicle in use,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the vehicle the front portion being shownin section,

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a portion of the front axle,

Fig. 4l is a perspective view of a modlfied construction,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified construction in the mounting of aypropelling arm Fig. 6 is a detail view of amodiied frame arrangement,and

ltion ,pad 8 secured thereto.

Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive are detail views showing various forms offriction pads and propelling arms.

In carrying out my invention I provide a toy vehicle having a seat 1mounted well above `the front and rear axles 2 and 3. The seat l issupported on top of the upwardly converging front and rear frame bars l,and 5. A propelling arm 6 is movable between the front frame bars 4l, isadapted by means of the handle 7 to be held by a child sitting on theseat, and braced against the ground .to `obtain the forward propulsionof the vehicle.

For the purpose of insuring a firm hold `on the surface over which thevehicle moves in thrusting the propelling arm against the ground,the-lower end of the arm has a fric- This pad is made of some suitablematerial that is yielding or springy and yet mechanically strong enoughto withstand considerable wear. The shape of the pad as well as thepropelling arm, is subject to considerable change and various forms ofboth are illustrated in Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive. These various formswill be explained more fully later.

Referring again to the construction of the vehicle, it should beobserved rst that the rear frame bars 5 are parallel to each other asillustrated in Fig. l, that is to say the lateral distance between thebars is the same. The front bars A, however, converge toward the frontaxle 2 and are secured together by any suitable means to anaxle block 9which is interposed at the meeting` point ofthe front bars. So it willbe seen that the general aspect of the vehicle from the side is that ofa pyramid, and while the rear bars are parallel, the front barsconi/'erge in the manner just stated.

Disposed centrally of the front converging bars 4; is a guide 10 whichis fixed at both ends in the seat and axle block respectively, andreceives the propelling arm 6 ends of both axles are reduced to formtrunnions. One of the trunnions 13 is illustrated in Fig. 3. v

Mounted on the trunnion 13 is a metallic bushing 14 and a similarbushing l5 is fixed in the center of the wooden wheels 16. The bushingsin moving upon one another, reduce friction and also prevent theenlarging of the hole in the wheel as would be the case were thebushings not provided. The wheel is held in place on the trunnion by awasher, and a screw which is fastened into the end of the trunnion. Thewheels 16, which are the same in the four instances shown, may be madeof metal if it be preferred, and in this event the bushings will not benecessary, excepting of course when the wooden axles 2 and 3 areretained, when the bushings 14 will be tted on the trunnions just thesame.

A modified construction of the vehicle is shown in Fig. 4. Here theframe bars are replaced by a platform 17 with a longitudinal slot 18 inwhich the lower end of the propelling arm 6 is pivoted. The slot 18widens out at 18a to provide ample room for the driving arm in roundingcorners. A driving arm 19 is pivoted at the upper end to the propellingarm, and the free end of the driving arm carries the friction pad 8which engages the ground. The driving arm occupies the slot 18 as shownand upon moving the propelling arm back and forth a. fresh hold of thefriction pad on the ground is obtained each time, so that the back andforth movement of the childs body secures the forward propulsion of thevehicle. The seat 1 is supported well above the latform and forward ofthe rear axle 3. I`he projecting portion of the platform to the rear ofthe seat may be used as a step upon which another child may stand incoasting.

Instead of simply mounting the propelling arm 6 on the guide 10 as shownin Fig. 2, the arrangement in Fig. 5 may be employed. Here the guideconsists of a transverse pin 10a which occupies a horizontal slot 11 inthe propelling arm. The pin 10 is supported in a yoke 20, and springs 21on each side of the propelling arm normally keep the arm in the middlebut permit the free lateral movement of the arm on the pin. Thisconstruction is of special advantage when the vehicle is propelledaround corners, and is embodied to good` eifect in the v lconstructionin Fig. 4.

The frame bars 4 and 5 may be crossed as shown in Fig. 6, and the seat 1secured on the upper extremities of the bars. The bars are securedtogether at the crossing points, and this construction may readily beemployed instead of that shown in Fig. 2 if it be so desired since thisconstruction is probably somewhat stronger than that shown in Fig. 2.

The various forms of the friction pads illustrated in Figs. 7 to 14consist briefly of a resilient piece attached to the end of thepropelling arm in various manners. In Fig. 7 the friction pad consistsof a ball 8a which is simply slipped over the end of the arm and heldthere by the friction of the walls of the socket against the arm. InFig. 8 the ball 8b is held in place by a screw 22. In Fig. 9 the end ofthe arm is beveled and the pad 8c is simply slipped over the end. InFig. 10 the pad 8d is held in place by a screw 22, and in Fig. 11 thepad Se is secured in any suitable manner to the rounded end of the armas shown. The forms in Figs. 9 and 11 are preferred because the ends ofthe arms in both instances have the general shape representing the angleof inclination of the propelling arms at the end of a stroke. In otherwords when a stroke is completed the propelling arm will stand at an`angle substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and in order to prevent theuneven wearing of the friction pad, the end of the arm is beveled orrounded as just explained so that the pad lies at upon the surface.

The forms in Figs. 12 to 14 represent still other departures, thearrangement in Fig. 14 consisting of a plug 8f fitted in a socket in theend of the arm. These various types of friction pads and propelling armsare simply shown in the drawing to illustrate that many modications maybe made and still retain the first principle of providing a non-slippingpiece on the end of the propelling arm to insure a firm grip on thesurface in propelling the vehicle forwardly.

The operation and advantages of the toy vehicle are as follows:Reviewing the construction briefly; the wheels 16 are mounted on thetrunnions on the extremities of the front and rear axles, and the axlesin turn are mounted on the king bolt 12 and in sockets in theextremities of the rear frame bars 5 respectively. The arran `ement ofthe frame bars is very clearly s own in the drawing and needs no furtherexplanation.

It may be stated however that the guide 10 is xed in the middle of theforwardly converging front frame bars 4 so as to hold the propelling arm6 in the center. The guide 10 is also subject to considerable variationin its construction. Instead of usingthe plain rod, parallel members maybe employed with the propelling arm 6 in between. The construction shownin Fig. 2 or its immediate equivalent is preferred however, primarilythat the automatic lift ing action of the friction pad at the end of thestroke by means of the engagement of the guide with the upper extremityof the slot, may be had.

The propelling arm may be permitted to simply drag loosely on theground. In propelling the vehicle forwardly, the propelling arm islifted and quickly moved forwardly on the guide to the limit of thechilds reach. The propelling arm will be unconsciously stood at such anangle that upon pulling backwardly the vehicle will be forced forwardlymost effectively. If it be desired to propel the vehicle backwardly, thearm is thrown in the other direction. The vehicle may be used as a wagonby pulling the propelling arm as far forwardly on the guide l0 as itwill go thus providing a tongue whereby the wagon is pulled.

Another variation in the manner of employing the toy vehicle consists ofmaking the wheels 16 with grooves to run on a track when it is notdesired to run the vehicle on the floor or on the street. Instead ofusing the wheels, sled runners may be employed so that the vehicle maybe propelled over the snow. The body may be made into such shapes asthat of an automobile, or into the figures of animals, etc.

While the construction and arrangement of the toy vehicle is that of agenerally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe claims.

I claim l. A toy vehicle including a wheeled frame, fixed guide means, apropelling arm loosely mounted on said means, adapted to be grasped atone end and thrust at an angle with respect to the ground for propellingthe frame forwardly, and means on the ground engaging end including aresilient friction pad, for preventing said arm from slipping.

2. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame with a seat, a propellingarm, an inclined guide rod fixed on the frame arranged to looselysupport the propelling arm to permit the free forward, backward andlateral motions of the arm in propelling the frame forwardly, meansincluding a friction pad for preventing slipping on the groundcontacting end of said arm, and a cross-handle on the upper end of thearm.

3. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame including forward andrearward upwardly converging frame bars the forward bars converging atthe front, a seat surmounting the forward and rear frame bars, an axleblock interposed in the front converging ends of the forward bars, afront axle pivoted beneath the axle block, a propelling arm operating inthe space between the forward frame bars, and means including a guidefixed in a central position lon gitudinally of said space, to supportsaid arm to freely move backwardly, forwardly and laterally.

4. In a toy vehicle, front and rear axles having wheels, front and rearframe bars rising from the axles, a seat surmounting the frame bars anddisposed in a plane well above the axles, a propelling arm operating inthe space between the front frame bars, the disposition of the seatabove the axles permitting the free movement of the propelling arm inthe backward, forward and lateral directions, fixed means for looselysupporting the propelling arm, and4 means including a friction pad onthe end of the arm for engaging the ground.

5. A toy vehicle comprising a frame including forwardly converging frontframe bars leaving an operating space, a guide disposed centrally ofsaid space, and a propelling arm mounted on said guide, including meansfor permitting free longitudinal and lateral motions of the arm on theguide.

6. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame including the forward framebars spaced apart to provide an operating space. a guide including a roddisposed longitudnally of said space, and a propelling arm looselymounted upon said guide and adapted to be moved forwardly at the top toobtain an angled relationship between the arm and the ground to propelthe vehicle forwardly, said arm being adapted to be pulled backwardlyupon said guide with the lower end in contact with the ground to act asa brake for vehicle.

7. A toy vehicle, comprising a frame including rear frame bars and frontframe bars, a seat mounted on the frame bars, a rear axle mounted on therear frame bars, an axle block carried by the front frame bars, a frontaxle pivoted on the axle block, sheathed trunnions formed on the axles,wheels with sheathed bores journaled on the trunnions, means for keepingthe wheels in place, a propelling arm having a slot, operating in thespace between the front frame bars; means including a guide rod fixed inthe space between the front frame bars and occupying` said slot, andnon-slipping means on the lower Iend of the propelling arm, including anattached resilient friction pad.

S. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame including the forward framebars spaced apart to provide an operating space, a guide located in saidspace and disposed longitudinally thereof, and a propelling arm having aslot receiving the guide, said arm being freely movable upon the guidein propelling the vehicle and being adapted to be pulled forwardly uponthe guide to the lower extremity of the slot to provide a tongue whenthe vehicle is used as a wagon.

ARTHUR R. OELHAFEN.

In presence of- H. G. BELL, J. B. FosNo'r.

